General Akol Koor reportedly working to turn JCE into political group

JUBA – South Sudan’s intelligence chief General Akol Koor Kuc is reportedly working with some supporters within the Jieng Council of Elders to turn the tribal organization into a political group that can also seek power, according to people familiar with his efforts.

One senior JCE source who is close to the Kuc told Sudans Post in an exclusive interview that a meeting between five members of the council discussed the possibility of giving the Jieng Council of Elders a new name and turn it into a political organization because the current naming is causing complications to name of the Dinka community.

“There was a meeting this week between General Akol Koor and five senior members of the Jieng Council of Elders and the agenda was to change the name of the Jieng Council of Elders and also turn it into a political organization that can also compete in the political space in the country,” the source with direct knowledge told Sudans Post from Juba.

“The reason is that all the people in the country are taking bad image for the Jieng people and this is one of the reasons why the name should be changed and let it be political so that no one is worried about the name of the Dinka people,” the source added.

The source further said the idea has received some opposing views within in teh JCE and  already have disagreed with the notion saying President Salva Kiir Mayardit had not been allowed to participate because of his political status, but remains unclear why General Akol Koor, a national security chief, would be allowed to join that meeting.

The latest development comes as the Council grows more and more critical against the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit at one point calling for Kiir and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny to accept the outcome of the National Dialogue report which called for end to their political career.